Northwestern and Penn State Battle to a 10-10 Tie
Northwestern’s defense came out strong against the heavily-favored Penn State Nittany Lions, forcing a turnover on the very first play of the game. The Wildcats’ linebacker Braydon Brus delivered a powerful hit, knocking the ball loose from Penn State’s returner and granting Northwestern excellent field position.
Northwestern capitalized on the early turnover, managing to take a 10-3 lead in the second quarter. However, Penn State responded with an impressive two-minute drill, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown by Trey Potts to tie the score at 10-10 before halftime.
Kentucky Shocks No. 22 Florida with 23-7 Victory
Kentucky’s running back Ray Davis put on a spectacular show against Florida’s defense. Davis showcased his strength, speed, and versatility, amassing 215 all-purpose yards in the first half alone. He pushed the pile forward for a gritty three-yard touchdown, showed off his speed with a 75-yard breakaway score, and even displayed his receiving skills with a nine-yard grab.
Davis’ outstanding performance, combined with an Alex Raynor field goal, propelled Kentucky to a commanding 23-0 lead. Florida managed to score just 30 seconds before halftime, but it was not enough to overcome Kentucky’s dominance.
USC Dominates Colorado with a 34-14 Halftime Lead
USC quarterback Caleb Williams took advantage of Colorado’s depleted secondary, completing 16 out of 19 passes for four touchdowns in the first half. MarShawn Lloyd added to USC’s lead with a 7-0 touchdown just two minutes into the game. The Trojans quickly capitalized on a rare punt by Colorado, marching nearly 80 yards in just three plays, culminating in a remarkable 71-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Tajh Washington.
Shedeur Sanders’ interception gave USC further momentum, and Williams connected with Dorian Singer for another touchdown, extending USC’s lead to 21-0 after just 16 minutes of play.
Clemson Looks Strong with 21-7 Advantage over Syracuse
Despite coming off a tough loss against No. 4 Florida State, Clemson showed no signs of an emotional hangover. Quarterback Cade Klubnik played a turnover-free game, throwing for nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns. His second touchdown was an impressive 47-yard pass to Beaux Collins just before halftime.
Clemson’s defense also stood strong, limiting Syracuse’s Garrett Shrader to a meager 6 out of 15 completions and fewer than 100 yards passing. The Tigers built a commanding 21-7 lead on the road at halftime.
These halftime scores set the stage for an exciting second half as teams fight to secure their victories or stage comebacks.